Anja Leszinksy's budget of $420,000 would buy two houses in Chicago or three in Dallas. In Sydney, the most unaffordable housing market in the English-speaking world, it gets her a nondescript one-bedroom apartment about 6.4 kilometres from the town centre or a run-down home on the city's outskirts.

SEAN NICHOLLS
The number of home loans taken out by first home buyers in NSW has plummeted following a state government decision in last year's budget to axe a $7000 grant for those buying existing properties.

Investment

Chris Tolhurst
Fixed mortgage rates are becoming a lot more attractive to borrowers. In fact, the latest fixed-rate loans to come on the market cost considerably less to pay down than variable-rate loans.

Enzo Raimondo
The REIV has released its state budget submission for 2012-13, highlighting a need to continue state-based tax reform, assist first-home buyers and reduce taxes to promote investment in Victoria.

Peter Martin and Clancy Yeates
The standoff over home loan interest rates ends, with each of Australia's big four banks finally yielding to political pressure and passing on the Reserve Bank's 0.25 point cut.

Courtney Trenwith
Contrary to popular belief, property prices in Australia over the past 30 years have only grown in line with rising incomes and lower interest rates, a prominent property economist has claimed.